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My 3rd and 4th children are 2 .5 years apart in age, but 3 school years. My 2yo was born in June, my 5yo in Dec. In most states, she wouldn't even be in K this year, but, here in Canada she is. And she's really not ready for schooling yet, so we're not doing much aside from some math and working on letter sounds.

I'm one that always gets caught up on where they 'should' be. So, if I put her with DS in a guide, say Bigger, when DS is at the youngest for it, they'd be in grade 2 and 5. I could do extensions but she'd miss the last 3 books. But, having a large family, we need to double up everywhere we can. We're having another baby next summer, so, I try to remind myself by the time that baby gets to K, my oldest two will be in 9 and 7 and a lot more independent. But we may also be up to 7 kids by then and a lot more busy with life in general.

So, should I just combine them and not worry about about missing the last 3 books? I'm trying to decide now, so I know if I need to be doing other stuff with her while waiting for DS to be old enough to start HSing.

With that many years apart, i would think it would be easier to just do two guides. Sometimes all the tweaking can make it more difficult when you should be able to just open up a guide and use it as it is. Just my opinion. next fall i will have 3 in guides. one in LHTH, one in BEyond, one in Bigger and a 6 month old . I just don't see how i could have combined my 2 eldest who are only 16 months apart! They are just so different in their schooling and they fit perfectly into the guides they are in now (Beyond and LHFHG).

JEnn d.

Hi Mumkins! I do think for larger families that combining is important to do where it can feasibly be done. I guess I think 3 HOD programs is very manageable, and 4 for the seasoned homeschooler (as long as some of the guides are the older more independent ones) is feasible too. Five K-8 programs is where I start to think it's too much. So, I think what I would do is work with your 5 yo and see how she grows and matures. Then, I would next look at my 2 yo, and see if he seems to be combined better with older sis, or baby at that point. I would combine him somehow with one of them. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

I guess I just look down the road. If we don't combine any more, in 6 years, we'd have- future guide with 2 in it, Another in a future guide, Preparing, Little hearts and likely another toddler to care for and another baby or pregnancy. It just seems so much. Is it funny that I'm praying the next child is only 2 school years apart? I've already been thinking Nov. '13 sounds like a good time for a baby, lol.

Mumkins wrote:I guess I just look down the road. If we don't combine any more, in 6 years, we'd have- future guide with 2 in it, Another in a future guide, Preparing, Little hearts and likely another toddler to care for and another baby or pregnancy. It just seems so much. Is it funny that I'm praying the next child is only 2 school years apart? I've already been thinking Nov. '13 sounds like a good time for a baby, lol.

Ahh, to pick our date for having babies - that would really be something! Why not just give it a shot? Put your 2 and 5 yo together and see how it goes? You can always put the 2 yo with baby later if it's a better combo.

In Christ,
Julie

Mumkins,

I do think that some combining is necessary and works well for large families. One thing that is so often true though is that the oldest child in the family is able to move ahead much more independently and more quickly academically than the kiddos who follow. This isn't always true, but it does seem like the older kiddos get more of our personalized attention, simply because they are the oldest. Not to mention that the oldest child often tends to be a self-starter who is fairly strong in willpower, making that child a great candidate to move toward more independence earlier.

With that being said, I'd likely get underway with your oldest, not worrying about slowing that child down to wait for the next little one in line. I would just let that oldest child go as fast and far as he/she is able. Then, when your next pair of kiddos comes up, I'd plan toward combining them, beginning with LHTH for both first around the time they are 2 and 4 and then moving into LHFHG later as a pair.

Often combining scenarios change through the years, and it's so hard to see (when kiddos are so young) which kiddos will combine best and why. There are so many dynamics that contribute to whether combining is a positive move or not that you won't possibly be able to consider them all until you are in the moment.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts. Yours may differ, and you will ultimately know far better than me!

Blessings,
Carrie

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. My older 2 are easy because my oldest is a little behind and my 2nd oldest a little ahead. #3 is showing the same difficulties as #1 and #4 is very, very much like his brother, so, combining them may be easier than I think anyway.

If I were to combine, would my DD be missing out on a lot if she missed the last 3 guides? I couldn't use them for grades 9, 10 and 11 could I? Would she be ready for high school if she missed the last 3?

Mumkins,

We do have families already using RTR for high school, with some beefing up in the 3R's and science. Revival to Revolution actually does cover grades 8-9 with extensions in history so that would work with some additional beefing up in the 3R's. The science within Rev. to Rev. has a high school credit option. So, what you mentioned is a possibility.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks Carrie, that helps a lot!